Nitro-V
Nitro-V is a modern stainless steel built from an AEB-L base with added nitrogen and vanadium. That combination gives it a rare mix of high toughness, solid edge retention, and strong corrosion resistance, making it a popular choice for kitchen knives and everyday-carry blades that need to survive hard use without rusting.
Nitro-V FAQ
What hardness does Nitro-V reach?
Peak hardness is around 64 Rc as-quenched, with most knives tempered into the low-to-mid 60s Rc range. See the heat treat details further down this page for the full recipe.
Is Nitro-V hard to sharpen?
No, it sharpens easily and responds well to standard sharpening stones, similar to AEB-L. See the full grinding and sharpening guide.
Does Nitro-V rust?
It offers good stainless corrosion resistance, a step up from AEB-L thanks to its nitrogen content, well suited to kitchen and outdoor use.
How does Nitro-V compare to AEB-L or VG-10?
Nitro-V is a modest upgrade over its AEB-L base, offering slightly better edge retention at a small cost in ease of grinding, and it is tougher than VG-10 while VG-10 holds a slight edge-retention advantage. See the full breakdowns: AEB-L vs Nitro-V and Nitro-V vs VG-10.
Also known as: Nitro-V
Composition
| Carbon (C) | 0.68% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 13.60% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.55% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30% |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.10% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.11% |
Properties
| Property | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toughness | ★★★★★ | One of the toughest stainless steels available, inheriting AEB-L's excellent toughness while adding a bit more wear resistance from vanadium and nitrogen. |
| Edge Retention | ★★★☆☆ | Similar to AEB-L: good, not exceptional, since it relies on a fine, clean microstructure rather than heavy carbide loading for its edge. |
| Corrosion Resistance | ★★★★☆ | 13.6% chromium plus nitrogen gives genuinely good stainless performance, a step up from AEB-L and well suited to kitchen and outdoor use. |
| Machinability / Grinding | ★★★★☆ | Processes well with standard knifemaking tools and is considered forgiving to grind and heat treat for a stainless steel. |
Heat Treatment
Austenitize at 1900-1950 F for 15 minutes (use the lower end if following with a freezer rather than liquid nitrogen). Plate quench, then apply a cryogenic treatment (liquid nitrogen or a home freezer) before tempering. As-quenched hardness can reach roughly 64 Rc. Temper at 300-350 F: 300 F favors maximum hardness and edge stability, while 350 F gives the best overall toughness balance for most knife use. Avoid tempering near 450 F, which shows an unexpected drop in toughness for this steel.
Best Uses
A strong pick for kitchen knives, EDC blades, and outdoor knives where rust resistance and toughness both matter. Browse more entries in the Knife Steel Database, and see the Heat Treating Guide for the full stage-by-stage process.
Sources: New Jersey Steel Baron Nitro-V heat treat data sheet; Larrin Thomas, Nitro-V: Its Properties and How to Heat Treat It, Knife Steel Nerds.